It depends on the material. If they are flexible, and deform easily, a lot of energy would be converted into structural damage, I would presume.

> it only takes another satellite going in the opposite direction to supply all the energy

I see, indeed the next collision will supply a lot of external momentum.

Material properties essentially become completely irrelevant when things hit into other things at speeds that greatly exceed the speed of sound in either material. At that point, you get best results if you just model both objects as fluids.

interesting insight! thanks

> It depends on the material. If they are flexible, and deform easily, a lot of energy would be converted into structural damage, I would presume.

At those speeds, everything is "flexible" in the sense that even metal just flows in a fluid-like manner (see picture linked in the comment).

Also, the material would have to somehow convert the energy of an entire car crashing into it at full speed. Except the car is only an inch wide.

1/2 an ounce (14 grams) according to that link. Even more nuts!